Photography

1. Possu fà fotografie quì?

   May I take photos here?

   Usage

   Checking before taking photos in a church, museum or archaeological site

   Grammar Note

   Possu is the 1sg of pudè. Fà fotografie literally means "to make photographs"; fotografia is also written fotograffia. Keep the grave accent in quì. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Vi possu fà una fotografia?

   Can I take your photo?

   Usage

   Always ask before photographing a person

   Grammar Note

   With a polite voi address, the pronoun vi goes before the conjugated verb; to a friend use Ti possu fà una fotografia?. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ci pudete fà una fotografia?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   A polite request to a passer-by to photograph your group

   Grammar Note

   Ci is the pronoun "us" and goes before the conjugated pudete, the 2pl of pudè that makes the request polite. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Hè pruibitu di fotografià quì

   Photography is not allowed here.

   Usage

   What staff say when photography is not permitted; also seen on signs

   Grammar Note

   Hè pruibitu di + infinitive means "... is forbidden". Pruibitu is also written proibitu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. A luce quì hè perfetta pè e fotografie!

   The light is perfect for photos here!

   Usage

   An enthusiastic remark about good lighting

   Grammar Note

   Luce is feminine, so the adjective is the feminine perfetta (masculine perfettu). Pè means "for". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Vi pudete spustà un pocu à manca / à diritta?

   Can you move a bit to the left / right?

   Usage

   Asking your subject to shift slightly for a better composition

   Grammar Note

   The reflexive spustassi (to move oneself) puts its pronoun vi before pudete. Manca is "left" and diritta "right". Spustà is also written spostà. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Quale hè u megliu locu pè fotografià e Calanche di Piana?

   Where is the best spot to photograph E Calanche di Piana?

   Usage

   Asking a local or guide for the best viewpoint of a landmark

   Grammar Note

   The Italian landmark is replaced by E Calanche di Piana, the coastal rocks on Corsica. Megliu is "best"; pè + infinitive means "for doing". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. A batteria di u mo apparechju fotograficu hè scaricata — induve a possu ricaricà?

   My camera battery is dead — where can I charge it?

   Usage

   Asking a café, hotel or tourist office where to charge the camera

   Grammar Note

   Batteria is feminine, so scaricata and the object pronoun a ("it") are feminine too. "Camera" is expressed as apparechju fotograficu (photographic device). Ricaricà is also written ricarcà. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Cercu una carta di memoria

   I'm looking for a memory card.

   Usage

   Used in electronics shops, camera shops or convenience stores

   Grammar Note

   Cercu is the 1sg present of cercà and also covers "I am looking for". "Memory card" is built as carta di memoria. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Questa vista hè straurdinaria — ci vole à fà una fotografia!

    This view is extraordinary — I have to take a photo!

    Usage

    A spontaneous exclamation at a striking view

    Grammar Note

    Vista is feminine, so straurdinaria is feminine. Ci vole à + infinitive means "one must". A set phrase for "breathtaking" could not be verified, so straurdinaria is used. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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